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“ Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?”
(Matthew 21:31)
Licensed Shutterstock stock photo ID: 692058238 Seer Ezekiel Statue at the base of the Colonna dell'Immacolata (Column of the Immaculate Conception) in Piazza Mignanelli, Rome, Italy. By Artography
THE PASTOR’S POST
Last week I had the joy of being the celebrant for three confirmation ceremonies at Holy Family Parish, Runaway Bay. This ceremony would normally be led by one of our bishops or the Vicar General, and celebrated on or close to Pentecost, but the chaos of Covid has meant that these sacraments are offered whenever the Parish is able to get the children suitably prepared for the sacrament. There were about 50 children to be confirmed, but social-distancing meant that numbers were limited and each family was able to have five guests including their sponsor. Nevertheless the traditional excitement and nervousness of the children was obvious and for one evening at least, they were close to angelic.
Whenever I am connected with sacramental celebrations with children these days, I cannot help but remember my own childhood celebrations, which oddly, have not faded in my memory as much as most other significant events. For example, I remember eating rainbow cake for breakfast on my First Communion Day breakfast about 8am, and wearing a tie for the first time for my Confirmation. Our school permitted us to wear our Confirmation clothes to school the next day (for one day only) to let the other non-Confirmed kids know that we were now special. And we truly felt very special, particularly after months of learning and practicing for the big day. I think the special feeling lasted about 3 days until everything went back to normal. I had hoped that this spiritual evaluation may have got me out of a few jobs at home, but none of the gifts of the Holy Spirit was able to free me from washing up, mowing the lawn or filling the wood box.
I recall being told that following the laying on of the hands of the bishop, we were soon to become “Soldiers for Christ” which for a 10 year old sounded rather exciting, until I discovered that it didn’t come with a uniform and a gun. Soldiers, we were told, were people who were strongly disciplined and followed orders, and sometimes had to suffer for their beliefs. Even I could tell that this was a setup by adults to keep us controlled. At that point the magic wore off and I decided I would prefer to be a “civilian” for Christ. Safer and requiring less courage.
I’m not sure the young kids last week at Runaway Bay understood what receiving the seven gifts of the Spirit might mean to their lives, but I do hope as adults we might better appreciate how these gifts might enhance our lives, and therefore the lives of those who come into our sphere of life. Gifts like wisdom and wonder, which are not always guaranteed as we age, are sadly not acknowledged as being important attributes these days. Often, when I visit a nursing home, do I look and wonder about the rich lives of some of the residents, possibly captains of industry, or great musicians, outstanding teachers or accomplished artists. Did any of them reach great heights in sport or save lives in the field of medicine. Has their wisdom and experience been tapped and stored so that it won’t just evaporate when they are now longer with us? What happens to all that knowledge and experience? Can it ever be captured as passed on to those desperate to use it? Just a wistful thought.
Does a child really need fortitude, wise counsel and courage or do they need a lot more life under their belts in order to realise that nearly every important decision we make uses those gifts. Do they ever look in awe and wonder at what is happening and changing in the world around them? Probably not, because there is too much for them to see and live to take it all in and store it for later use. I really hope that these children will have brains like computers, that will take in all the data and store it in a file that can be downloaded at a later time when they will be able to recognise and call for later use of what they had stored all that time.
That’s perhaps why I enjoyed the Confirmation events so much, because I heard again what had happened for me many decades ago, about the gifts or “talents” of the Holy Spirit, and they make such good sense to an adult. With every encounter, problem or deliberation we somehow engage our learned wisdom and genuinely desire to do the right thing, not just the easy thing. Sometimes it requires fortitude and courage, at other times firmness and deep knowledge.
Whatever is ahead for those young children I do hope they don’t forget that their confirmation of their faith is not a burden to be carried, but an opportunity to be used, now that they are commissioned for action, not so much as soldiers for Christ, but as peacemakers for the world.
Fr Peter Dillon PP.
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION:
“Do nothing out of selfishness; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves…”
(Philippians 2:3)
Pride and ego are hard things to control. We see how others act or dress and think we are superior to them. We idolize our own self-image. But, if we truly believe everything is a gift from God, we recognize all the people that God has put into our lives as gifts! We are grateful for how they enrich our lives. Pray every day for the people in your life: your family, your friends, and those who make you angry.
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous and accountable for what each has been given.
We congratulate the Stanton and Nimb families, whose children Dawn Marie and Mason Cooper will be baptised in our Parish this weekend.
As Dawn Marie and Mason Cooper begin their faith journey, please keep the Baptism families in your prayers.
THE GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
[shutterstock licensed image: stock illustration ID: 461101012 Parable of the Two Sons: obedient and disobedient. By askib
[Gospel values included in the readings: Doing the will of the Father is more important than merely giving God lip service. God is not unjust, even if God’s ways are unlike ours.]
I think that today's gospel, although very short, is really a key teaching in Christ's gospel. It goes to the heart of what Our Lord was doing and saying.
Jesus did not come to do away with the religious tradition of his day, but rather to fulfil it. (To complete it and to perfect it). And at the heart of this religious tradition is the core of God's message. However, Jesus taught on several occasions about the danger of a mere outward observance of religion.
Much more important, (and ultimately the only thing that really matters), is that one is faithful to the truth of God's message by DOING God's will, irrespective of whether one SEEMS to be living up to the message or not.
Appearances can (so often) be quite deceiving.
The irony of today's message is that all of us can say, "well of course! That is common sense." OBVIOUSLY, the son who said no to his father but ended up DOING his will is the righteous one, and the one who SAID he would obey his father but did not, is in the wrong. It is so blatantly obvious. I imagine that the listeners of Jesus when he first taught this would also have probably responded, 'well of course.' The trouble is, that we KNOW this teaching is right, but so many people still continue to fall for the trap of it nevertheless.
Perhaps we all keep falling into this trap of judging by appearances and not by realities. Since none of us can see inside the heart of another, we naturally go by what we see and by what people say or how things appear to be. But, I do wonder, why do we keep falling for the trap of appearances versus realities.
This parable of the two sons is vital.
St Paul picks up on this same theme in his famous and popular first letter to the Corinthians 12:31 "… If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
This teaching is so central to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux who wrote that she took no comfort from praise, and likewise, experienced little distress from criticism. She knew, as in the gospel, that a person could be praised for an action that appears charitable, whilst all the time, inwardly, (unknown to others), the person’s motive is actually not consistent with God's ways… And, likewise, a person might be motivated by utter kindness, but their actions are mistaken for selfishness and malice.
The message appears clear; we are to do what is right and loving, in imitation of Our Lord’s generous kindness, irrespective of how others might judge it . We are to act lovingly and justly and humbly even in situations where appearances are deceptive. We are invited to gently brush aside both criticisms and compliments, in favour of standing judged by God alone, as to how well and truly we loved. Only God can judge this, no matter how well we pride ourselves in being good judges of character. Only God can truly see into the heart and mind of his creations and see what truly exists within us. We strive to avoid jumping to conclusions about people's motives. The motives of others, along with their inner heart, are ultimately only fully known to God alone. We know this intuitively but we often find it hard to put into practise.
As I say, we know this all conceptually… but Jesus would not have had to repeat this teaching so often, in various forms, unless he was well aware that we can fall for the trap of focusing only on outward appearances. This can cause enormous mischief and misunderstanding and can thwart the real object of Our Lord's teaching.
Let us ask the Lord to help purify our inner life… and make our inner attitudes match our outward words and actions; so that everything we do, in thought, word and action, be motivated by true love of God. And Love of neighbours as ourselves… And may we have the strength to continue to act with love; even at the risk of attracting condemnation and criticism from people who, unlike God, base their judgements on outward appearances.
Fr. Paul Kelly [Reference: The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (1898)].
Please Note:
Please be aware of scam emails purporting to be from Fr Peter.
The sender name is similar to Fr Peter’s but the address is fraudulent. The Parish will not ask for you to give donations through gift cards etc. The Parish have proper integrated systems for planned giving that are separate to email requests. Contact the Parish Office if you have any questions or concerns.
THE SEASON OF CREATION: “Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation.”
Compiled by the Missionary Society of St. Columban – Oceania. Suva, Fiji Islands.
September 27 (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Readings: Ezekiel 18:25-28; Phil 2: 1-11 or 2: 1-5; Matthew 21: 28-32
Theme: Ocean Sunday (God-given integrity—Ps 24)
The oceans, teeming with sea life, vibrant coral communities, and vast beauty, are part of God’s treasured creation. When God created the oceans, God declared them “good”. As God’s children and people of the ocean, we receive the ocean’s bounty on our tables and experience its beauty as we participate in recreation activities. As God’s stewards, we are called not only to enjoy the oceans, but also to care for them as a sacred gift from God. As we are people of God, we are to maintain the bounty of the oceans’ waters and the integrity of oceanic systems that support an abundance of life and an untold wealth of beauty.
(www.nccecojustice.org/realstoriesgreatgreen.html)
Our oceans are in trouble. Nearly 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year to make bags, bottles, packages, and other commodities for people all over the world but only ten percent of this plastic is properly recycled and reused. The rest ends up as waste in landfills or as litter in our natural environment, where it leaches dangerous chemicals into the nearby soil and water, endangering humans and wildlife alike. Plastic pollution not only affects our waters and marine life, but also the food chain and our overall health. Many organizations are mobilizing institutions and citizens across the globe to bring about a new level of consciousness about plastic pollution and a paradigm shift. The world must perceive plastics not only as an environmental challenge of global proportions but also a symbol of the values that need to change in order to build a more sustainable and just world.
(Excerpts taken from Catholic Climate Covenant)
As people of the ocean, our immediate action to save our home is urgent.
Here is a lovely hymn based on CREATION that you may like to listen to and reflect upon
Click Here to listen.
IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS Music by: Jan Novotka Created by: Michelle Sherliza OP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERFUL SUPPORT OF THE ANNUAL CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN LAST WEEKEND (19-20 SEPTEMBER 2020)
You can still donate to the Annual Catholic Campaign
visit catholiccampaign.com.au
These annual appeals were delayed because of the Covid-19 lockdowns. They are still vital to the operations of the Archdiocese.
MASS TIMES (PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED)
Additional to the above times, we will continue to celebrate weekday Mass at Sacred Heart at 9am.
The 9am Saturday Mass will be on the First Saturday of the month (3rd Oct) at Sacred Heart.
You will be informed via the parish website or E-Newsletter when this situation changes.
Please remember that as per restrictions we are still expected to book and check in for mass, maintain a social-distance of 1.5metres, receive Holy Communion in the hand only, refrain from physical contact when offering the Sign of Peace, and to sanitise when entering and exiting the premises. We ask that people consult the parish website https://www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au, to keep up to date with any changes relating to masses. Mass Booking: https://bookeo.com/catholicmassgoldcoast or
Or, if you are unable to book online, please ring the parish office between 9am and 12 noon Mon-Fri. Ph: 5572 5433
SACRED HEART & ST VINCENT’S RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS
Recently arrived 2021 God’s Word $18 Columban Calendars $9 Christmas cards
Remember we have contactless eftpos facilities available to save you handling cash in these times.
WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
Archbishop Christopher Prowse, in a letter for this Sunday’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, said the understandable focus on the COVID-19 pandemic must not distract people from another ongoing crisis.
“Global migration is a major challenge for much of today’s world and a priority for the Catholic Church,” he wrote.
“In words and deeds, Pope Francis repeatedly shows his deep compassion for all who are displaced. Witness his encounters with migrants and refugees on the islands of Lampedusa and Lesbos. Witness his call for their full embrace: to welcome, to protect, to promote and to integrate migrants, refugees and victims of human trafficking.”
Those four verbs – welcome, protect, promote and integrate – have been a constant refrain for the past three years, after they formed the basis of Pope Francis’ 2018 message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
The theme for this year’s message – the 106th the Catholic Church has marked – is “Forced Like Jesus Christ to Flee”.
Fr Warren
LITURGY SPOT
“Thou shalt avoid saying aloud, God’s Holy Name.”
Back in 2009 the Vatican clarified a situation in liturgy about the saying aloud in liturgies or public prayer of God’s proper name “YHWH,” which is also often written as 'Yahweh.'
Here is a talk I gave on the same topic that adds extra. The talk was trickier than this written version, because I could not speak the name of whom I was referring.
“I would like to share with you part of our faith deposit… the reverence we (his disciples) hold for God's Holy Name. We know we must not use God's name in vain. We must show reverence and respect to God and God's name. There is an ancient tradition, which goes back to the Jewish tradition, and which was a very important part of the early church tradition as well, that whenever the Scriptures were recited out loud in a Synagogue or in public prayer, the scroll of the Scriptures would be unrolled, and the lector would use an ornate pointer to trace the words as they recited them, (the psalms being usually sung in plain-chant.
And here is the beautiful bit, whenever a reader would come across the Proper name for God… the Word that starts with Y…. and is printed (here)…. "**[Yahweh]"** - Whenever they came across this Holy word written in Holy Scriptures, they would never say it aloud, (out of great reverence and respect for the Lord's name). They would see the word written, but would automatically replace the word with the similar, descriptive, word "LORD," whenever they came across the name of God. This was because God’s name was not to be treated lightly, or to be taken for granted, but rather to be respected and treated with awe, a sense of reverence and mystery and of course absolute humility.
This ancient tradition came across into the Christian church from the earliest times. The translation we use for the Bible that is read out in Masses, is usually here in Australia known as the “Jerusalem Bible,” (also we use the NRSV translation of the bible on Sundays here in this parish), but in the lectionary for the readings of the mass, the official text, you will not see God's name printed anywhere there. You will see the word LORD with all letters capitalised. This is a sign that the name that occurs at this point in the original sacred text is the Proper name of God ("**[Yahweh]"**). God’s name is replaced because of this absolute respect for God's name, which we never use lightly. God is beyond full earthly knowledge or total "knowing" but we still must strive to know and love God with every step of our journey, (but it is still always good to acknowledge that God is ultimately beyond total human comprehension, just as God's name defies exact translation – the closest we can get is "I am the one who IS, who was, and who will be"… But even that is a near-approximation to the meaning and a description. Our reverent “non-speaking” of God's name acknowledges all this.
If you were to buy a copy of the Jerusalem Bible for personal use, it DOES put the proper name in, but the tradition is that if spoken, God's name is always replaced with LORD. If the text itself was merely using the word Lord itself instead of God's proper name, then instead of the word LORD in all capitals, it would be spelt "capital-L"- Lord, with all other words in lowercase.
We can all think of a few familiar hymns that use God's proper name in the hymn words. They have been sung for decades, but they are a relatively new usage in the two thousand years of the Church and the two thousand years before that of Jewish faith and practise. The Vatican recently reiterated the ancient practice of not using the name in spoken word or song. So, those hymns have needed to be changed or retired from use. For example the hymn " [Yahweh], I know you are near…." is now.. "LORD, I know you are near." And another familiar hymn “Strong and Constant” has the opening line now sung as .. "You will be, The LORD who walks with me…." or “You will be, God who walks with me.”
This is not only out of respect for the Jewish tradition, but also our ancient practice that has been restored.”
Fr Paul
Here is more information on this topic from Liturgy Brisbane:
THE UNUTTERABLE NAME OF GOD. By Elizabeth Harrington.
I have been asked about a statement from Rome about hymns that include the word 'Yahweh'.
This is a reference to a letter sent by the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments to all bishops' conferences about "the translation and the pronunciation, in a liturgical setting, of the divine name signified in the sacred Tetragrammaton."
The Tetragrammaton (Greek for "4 letters") is YHWH, the four consonants of the ancient Hebrew name for God. It is also written as JHVH and YHVH because Hebrew and English letters do not match exactly. The exact pronunciation of YHWH is not now known. Over more recent time, people have added vowels between the four consonants to make it more readable: It occurs in various written and spoken forms, including Yahweh, Jahweh and Jehovah.
About vocalising YHWH the letter says: "As an expression of the infinite greatness and majesty of God, it was held to be unpronounceable and hence was replaced during the reading of sacred Scripture by means of the use of the alternate name: 'Adoni'', which means 'Lord,'".
The letter speaks of an ancient tradition "that the sacred Tetragrammaton was never pronounced in the Christian context nor translated into any of the languages into which the Bible was translated".
YHVH is often referred to as the 'unutterable' name of our 'ineffable' God, the one who is too great to be expressed in words, who is indefinable. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes God as "the inexpressible, the incomprehensible, the invisible, the ungraspable" and says that "our human words always fall short of the mystery of God". (CCC 42)
When Moses asks what name he should give to the one who speaks to him on Mount Horeb, Moses is not asking what to call God. He is asking "Who are you; what are you like; what have you done." This is clear from God's response: "i am who i am.", meaning that God is eternal, the God of our ancestors.
Because a name represents the reputation of the person addressed, it should be treated with the same respect as is given to the person. For this reason, God's name, in all its forms, is treated with enormous respect and reverence in Judaism.
The recent directive from Rome is not saying anything new. The Church has always been sensitive to concerns among observant Jews about pronouncing the name of God. While the Jerusalem Bible on which the current Lectionary is based uses the term 'Yahweh', it has been replaced by 'Lord' or 'God' in the Lectionary passages.
The practice has crept in however of using the God of Israel's proper name in hymns. Examples from the popular repertoire include "You Are Near", "Yahweh (is the God of my salvation)", "Strong and Constant", "Micah's Theme" and "Yahweh, the Faithful One". At the very least, songs such as these will need to be edited to remove the word "Yahweh". Composers have been asked to try to come up with alternate language for their hymns.
Several years ago, the Queensland Knights of the Southern Cross launched a campaign against improper use of the Lord's name. This Vatican directive provides an opportunity to encourage the faithful to show reverence for the name of God in daily life, emphasising the power of language as an act of devotion and worship. [Liturgy Lines © Liturgical Commission. Date - 18/01/2009]
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CELEBRATING FR PETER’S BIRTHDAY
Some parishioners came together, (at a covid safe distancing), after the 9am Mass on Friday last to celebrate Fr Peter’s birthday, officially on 6th September. He was surprised as he wasn't expecting it.
Some photos of the occasion:
Public Rosary to be held at Sacred Heart Church, Saturday 10 October 2020, at 2.30pm
The Public Rosary will be recited outdoors under the large fig tree near Casey Hall.
For further information please phone Grace Sulfaro mobile 0415 551 991
The Public Rosary is an international campaign to pray the rosary together in commemoration of the last apparition of Our Lady (October 13, 1917) at Fatima. It is a great opportunity for prayer groups and communities to join together in public prayer.
"Public prayer is far more powerful than private prayer to appease the anger of God and call down His mercy, and His mercy, and Holy Mother Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, has always advocated public prayer in times of public tragedy and suffering."
BECOMING CATHOLIC
Are you interested in becoming Catholic or learning about the Catholic faith?
Welcome!
The Catholic Church’s mission is to offer people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to deepen their understanding and relationship with Jesus Christ.
Becoming Catholic involves a journey of faith, accompanied by the support of a parish community. This process is called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA. During the RCIA process you meet with others to share, reflect, pray and learn more about the Catholic faith. There are ceremonies or ‘rites’ at each stage to signify the steps along the way. If you or someone you know would like to know more about becoming Catholic or would like to start the process of becoming Catholic as an adult, please contact our Parish Office.
Three Churches One Parish
RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
St Augustine, a great Saint of the Church, said, “Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in you.”
The RCIA is for all seeking to become members of the Catholic Church.
The RCIA is best described as a journey of faith that passes through a number of different phases and focuses on conversion of heart and mind to Christ. It is a gradual journey tailored to the needs of the individual.
It is a faith journey of adults to initiation through the unified rites of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Grounded in the four pillars of Word, Liturgy, Community and Mission, adults are provided with a sponsor, meet regularly to learn about Catholicism and become part of the fabric of the Parish prior to initiation.
The faith journey is adapted for children of catechetical age (8-17 years) and adults who are already baptised in another Christian tradition. It is a process for those who have not been Baptised at all, for those who have been Baptised into another Christian tradition and also for those who have been Baptised Catholic but have not throughout their lives been involved at all in the Catholic faith but are now wanting to make that Faith journey/commitment in their lives, and for all to become full members of the Catholic Church.
The RCIA process follows four stages of initiation
Inquiry Period
The Period of Evangelisation and Pre-catechumenate or Inquiry is the first stage of the journey. It is a time to explore and question your faith, uncover the basic message of the Gospel and begin to discern how to live this in your life.
It is a time of discovery with no fixed structure or duration. This is described as a time for inquiry and introduction to the gospel values; an opportunity for the beginnings of faith. This period begins when you make your enquiry and continues to 1st November 2020.
Catechumenate Period
The Period of the Catechumenate is a time for you to deepen your understanding of the Catholic faith and relationship with Jesus. It is a time for suitable pastoral formation and guidance. It can be thought of as an apprenticeship.
At the heart of the Catechumenate period is conversion of heart, the conversion to Jesus Christ. This period will commence on 1st November 2020 and continues to 16th February 2021 (with a break over the Christmas period).
Period of Purification
The period of Purification and Enlightenment is a time for reflection and prayer and a time to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. This is a period of more intense spiritual preparation, consisting more in interior reflection than catechetical instruction.
This period occurs in the Church during the season of Lent before Easter – Wednesday 17th February 2021 to Saturday 3rd April 2021.
Easter Vigil – 3rd April 2021
Your Baptism and Reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil Mass Celebrations.
Post Baptismal Period or Mystagogy
This is a time when the newly baptised (neophytes) begin their lifelong commitment to living a Christian life. It marks a shift from learning about faith to living faith in everyday life and a shift from looking within to looking outside, to the community.
PARISH INVOLVEMENT
The RCIA process does not happen without the involvement of the Parish community. So we are asking you to pray about whether you will become involved in sharing with our Catechumens and Candidates your faith journey, your relationship with Jesus Christ and your spreading of the Kingdom beyond the doors of the church to your neighbour. You too are most welcome to join them on their journey and our continued journey of faith!
Parish Office: 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters Q 4226
Phone: 07 5572 5433
Email: surfer@bne.catholic.net.au
Parish Priest: Fr Peter Dillon
PARISH FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Now, more than ever, your support is needed to help our Parish to continue valuable pastoral activities and to provide ongoing sustainability.
To assist you to support the Parish during this time of isolation, you can give via http://parishgiving.brisbanecatholic.org.au
If you are able to continue to support us, we would be most grateful. For all those who have been making payments via credit card and those who have donated directly into the parish account, we thank you. At the Sacred Heart and St Vincent’s churches we are now able to accept tap and pay donations via our contactless eftpos machines. The spirit of generosity is alive in our Parish. If you would like confirmation of your donation or a receipt emailed to you please contact me at manager.surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
Yours faithfully, Sonya Slater, Parish Manager
Our Faith Sustains Us Through Challenging Times
FEATURE: ‘Even If Nothing Can Be Done Medically, One Can Stay’
CDF Prefect, Cardinal Ladaria Tells ZENIT
As new Letter, approved by Pope Francis, Condemns Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide, & Calls Always for Care & Closeness, Prelate Warns Against Others Stating Otherwise
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020
Even if nothing further can be done medically for someone, Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer says that is no reason to not continue to care for them.
This is what the Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, expressed to ZENIT during the press conference on the CDF’s new letter “Samaritanus bonus: on the care of persons in the critical and terminal phases of life,” held with accredited journalists in the Holy See Press Office today, Sept. 22, 2020.
The new letter, approved by Pope Francis on June 25, 2020, who called for it to be published, condemns euthanasia and assisted suicide, and calls for protecting and preserving life, regardless of how fragile or compromised it may seem.
“Even if someone cannot be ‘cured’ medically, they ought to always be cared for,” until the end, he underscored.
Speaking along with Cardinal Ladaria, were Archbishop Giacomo Morandi, secretary of the same Congregation; Professor Gabriella Gambino, under-secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life; and Professor Adriano Pessina, member of the Directorate of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
Addressing Cardinal Ladaria, ZENIT English acknowledged that the document was very concrete and timely, inquiring as to how the Vatican wishes for it to reach society as a whole.
“This hope [that the letter reaches the international community and society at large] is always there, because if it were not, the letter would not have been written,” the CDF Prefect said.
“We think, and believe the Holy Father thinks, having given the authorization to publish this letter,” he said, “that deep in every person, there is this deep desire for closeness of ‘the other,’ and when one forgets this, it means that some part of humanity goes away. No?”
“For this to arrive at the conscience of everyone,” Cardinal Ladaria said, “will of course depend on us and on all Catholics worldwide, especially those involved in healthcare, of the people who have the most direct contact with the ill.” Personally, he explained, he believes this hope is there “because there is a hope in the goodness of man, and that this is found in each one of us.”
The Jesuit Cardinal warned against when at times someone is unconscious and others try to pressure one into making life or death decisions. “They tempt us, look this is very serious, they may say.”
In this sense, he underscored, it is even more imperative, that we remain close to humanity and those suffering.
“And for me it is very important, as all my fellow colleagues here highlighted and spoke a lot about, namely: The scene of the Cross”
“In many moments, one cannot do anything from the practical point of view, but one can stay,” he underscored.
Therefore, he elaborated, one thing is the possibility to heal and another thing is to care, “caring which could be from a medical point of view, but also from spiritual point of view, psychological point of view, or from the point of view of just being close.”
Therefore this hope that the letter’s message circulates, he acknowledged, exists.
How its diffusion coming to fruition will happen, “I am not a prophet,” he said smiling.
As usual, the Press Office took each masked journalist’s temperature upon entry, gave sanitizer, and had set channels to enter and leave the hall. Vatican-accredited press (and Press Office personnel) needed to wear masks and sit in designated, socially distant seats.
Deborah Castellano Lubov
(The article above was originally published by the church resource: Zenit - click here).
STAYING CONNECTED
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IN OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS AT THIS TIME
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Margaret Paterson, Rodney McGrath, Emmanuel Cominos, Paul Kennedy, Doug Reiser,
Helen Bohringer, John Zappa, George Cook, Caterina (Cathy) Randazzo, Peter O’Brien, Baby Charbel Raphael, Angela Duvnjak,
Judy Dempsey, Monica Bailey, Rachel Raines, Savannah Ayoub, Lisa Mangan, Colin Virtue, Ann Harris, Ann-Marie Loder,
Angel Salvador, Brian Woodgate, Kate Smith, Tricia Baumann, Gus Reeves, Baby Maeve Lombard, Kathy Kiely, Ron Perry,
Kim Parkes, Rosslyn Wallis, Jabour Haddad, Yvonne Lofthouse, Maureen Murphy, Peter Walsh, Arthur Haddad, Jean Di Benedetto, Damian Callinan, Rosemary Wales, Peter Allsopp, Yvonne Campesi, Louis Couch, Michael Tracey, Joanne Mooney, Joanne Parkes, Michelle MacDonald, John & Molly Robinson, Mary Kerr, Eileen McCarthy. And all those suffering from the effects of Covid-19.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Teresa Montgomery, Nan Gorman, Josie Hegarty, Mario Podrecca, Carol Rose Williamson,
Del Enid Anderson, Joan Margaret Gibbon, Carina Barrington, Thearsa Johnston.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Bessie Rice, Frank Alcock, Barry Harth, Sylvia Moray, Elaine Presswood, Ted Szczesny, Tom Killin, Keith Smith, Lee Cross, Ernest Barrett, Olive May Cam, Margaret Netting, John Hanna, Rita McCarthy, Dominica Borgia, Neville Coorey, Fanny Macky, Alan Taranto, Shirley Alford, Muriel Doris Miller, Nea Mary Butler.
DECEASED: Ronald Keene, Bruck Wheeler, and the Wheeler, Westwell and Woodgate families.
You can visit the Stay Connected page on our website to find an extensive list of information and resources to help during these times of isolation. Below are quick links to help stay in touch with our Parish and celebrate Mass at home:
Liturgy for you at Home (produced by SPP): https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Weekly Homily (produced by SPP): https://homilycatholic.blogspot.com
Surfers Paradise Parish Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surferscatholic/
Breaking Parish News (SPP Blog): https://news-parish.blogspot.com/
Access the digital Catholic Leader: https://catholicleader.com.au/digital-newspaper-covid19
Readings for Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
FIRST READING: Isaiah 5:1-7
Ps: Psalm 80:9+12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20 “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel”
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:6-9
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. John 15:16): Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord. Because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
GOSPEL: Matthew 21:33-43
“The Archdiocese of Brisbane holds that children and vulnerable adults are a gift from God with an intrinsic right to dignity of life, respect and security from physical and emotional harm. They are to be treasured, nurtured and protected from any harm.”
As a Parish Community, we pray for a change of heart, that we respond to our grief by reaching out to one another in truth and love.
ALLAMBE GARDENS MEMORIAL PACKAGE FOR SALE IN CATHOLIC SECTION
Due to family needs Mr and Mrs Swift have returned permanently to live in the UK. As a result of this decision they no longer require two burial plots at Allambe Gardens.
Allambe does not arrange resale of their packages but the owner can arrange for the sale privately.
The plot includes a double depth burial site, a polished jet black headstone (with 100 characters of gold leaf inscription), and two gold finished aluminium vases.
If you are considering purchasing a burial plot this could be to advantage as Jim is willing to sell below cost price.
If you are interested in negotiating with Jim and Linda please email on jfs.swift@gmail.com
PROTECT OUR UNBORN BABIES
“If (during an abortion) a live birth occurs…do not provide life-sustaining treatment…
Document the time and date of death”
(Queensland Health’s clinical guidelines for abortion.)
Under present legislation, abortions in Queensland can be performed at any time during a pregnancy, right up until the end of the third trimester. These laws are amongst the most extreme in the world where, if it is allowed at all, abortion is normally only allowed in the first two trimesters (the first 6 months) of pregnancy.
Archbishop Coleridge recently said, “My thoughts were made very clear when the debate on abortion was going on in the state (of Queensland), and the Church’s position is unequivocal on it. I think the legislation that was passed was seriously mistaken. I’ve made no secret of that. Therefore, I would support legislative change.
This is a major issue in the upcoming State election.
If you want to help stop this barbaric practice, phone (07) 3871 2445
or go to http://www.cherishlife.org.au/volunteer
